VIDEO: Crowds gathered to watch Vulcan XH558 farewell to flight tour

Alice Dyer

The historic Vulcan XH558 took to the skies at the weekend for a final tour of the country.

On Sunday the aircraft completed its southern route of the Farewell to Flight Tour flying over various locations including Wellesbourne, RAF Brize Norton, Rutland Water and Brunthingthorpe.

XH558 flew over the northern half of the country on Saturday including Newcastle Airport, Manchester Airport and East Midlands Airport.

In Manchester officers flying the National Police Air Service helicopter filmed part of the flight using the onboard video system from a safe distance.

A statement on its website reads: “A celebratory national tour, XH558’s most ambitious ever, is being planned for Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October.

“It will bring her flying career to a spectacular close in two sorties to cover the north and south, giving as many people as possible a final opportunity to see the dramatic sight of a Vulcan in the air.

“In saluting that remarkable period of intense British innovation that XH558 so powerfully embodies, the tour will include fly-pasts of several sites famous for British aviation excellence, as well as other well-known locations chosen to provide good vantage points for supporters.”

XH558’s final flight before it is grounded will take place mid to late October with details yet to be announced.